Chapter 12

The second dance was with Adrian. After that, Eileen kept glancing around the corners of the ballroom, but Leios did not appear, even as the banquet grew lively. Fortunately, Adrian was busy dancing with daughters of various nobles, and Kallian was also occupied by several nobles approaching him after his dance with Eileen.

‘……It’s better to leave.’

There were plenty of young noblemen hoping to speak with her, but on a day like this, when her engagement to Kallian was effectively announced, most people refrained from disturbing the prince or king. After the waltz with Kallian, Eileen felt tense and tired, so she gestured to Marianne, who was nearby.

“Is there anything you need, Princess?”

“I want to return to Ruby Palace first.”

“Already? It’s been so long since the last banquet; won’t you stay till the end?”

“I’m not feeling well today. Anyway, I’ve danced with His Highness the Prince, so my duties are done. Marianne, you should mingle with others a bit more before coming back.”

“You’ll go alone?”

“The carriage is right outside. I can manage that much. I want to leave quietly.”

Seeing Eileen’s exhausted expression, Marianne nodded reluctantly.

“At least let me escort you to the carriage. Of course, no one would dare misbehave in the royal buildings, but you look so tired.”

After a moment’s thought, Eileen nodded. All her maids were dressed up for the banquet, and Marianne, being the daughter of a Marquis, should have mingled with others, but she had chosen to stay by Eileen’s side. Feeling guilty, Eileen decided it was better to leave quickly. She stood, and Marianne joined her.

Royal family members used a different passage than ordinary nobles, so Eileen was able to reach the carriage without drawing attention.

“I’ll go in now.”

“There are no maids tonight—are you sure you’ll be alright alone?”

“The handmaids are still there. They’ll help with bathing and getting ready for bed.”

All the handmaids in Ruby Palace had served Queen Edna, so they were experienced. Even without her personal maids, Eileen knew she’d be cared for tonight. Still, Marianne looked at her with concern before bowing quietly.

“I’ll return not too late, Princess.”

“Don’t worry about me; enjoy the banquet. Like you said, it’s been a long time since the last one.”

Eileen smiled softly, and Marianne nodded in response. There was no need to delay. Eileen planned to send a message to the Dreikan Dukedom’s townhouse as soon as she returned to Ruby Palace. Tonight, she was determined to get a reply from the elusive man who had hidden from her. Clutching her dress, she boarded the carriage.

Settling into the dark carriage, Eileen only realized someone was already inside after the door closed.

“……Ah, mmph!”

Blinking several times in the darkness, her vision adjusted. As soon as she recognized the person before her, she nearly screamed, but was quickly silenced by a soft, hot sensation on her lips. The heavy, cool scent—mixed with a sweet taste—made it clear who had stolen her lips.

“Mmm, mmph, mmm… Leios, how did you…?”

Eileen trembled, finally meeting him again. All the longing, worry, and anxiety she had felt while waiting for him vanished like soap bubbles when she inhaled his scent.

“……Leios?”

“Ha.”

Mmph, mmph. Leios only let out a short breath, offering no explanation, and once again pressed his lips to hers. The carriage started to move, rumbling softly. The sweet scent of apple lingered in Eileen’s mouth, and Leios’s tongue greedily licked her lips.

“Mmm, mmph, mmm…”

Her lips parted, and Leios’s tongue traced her teeth. His hot breath quickly filled the carriage. Meanwhile, his hand reached around her back, slowly undoing the ties of her dress. As the thin fabric slipped forward, her chest, freed from its restraint, bounced upward.

“Ha, mmph, Leios, wait, not in the carriage…”

If things went further, the coachman would hear. Eileen tried to protest between Leios’s hungry kisses, but he ignored her. Soon, the ties around her waist were undone, and the bodice of her dress fell completely. Wearing only a thin white corset, Eileen shivered with a strange chill.

“Leios, the coachman will hear.”

“Shh.”

Leios’s red lips moved from hers down her slender neck. Eileen’s body exuded a sweet fragrance, stronger and more dizzying than what he’d smelled in the bedroom before. He knew noble ladies often soaked in scented baths before banquets to entice their partners.

She had dressed up for that prince.

A surge of jealousy rose in him. Leios licked Eileen’s neck and then bit down, making her cry out in pain.

“Ah! Ow!”

“Ha, it left a beautiful mark.”

“Leios…”

In the past, he would have worried first if she said she was hurt. Leios rarely spoke unnecessarily and quietly did his duty, which sometimes caused misunderstandings, but Eileen knew he had a kind side.

But tonight, Leios seemed like a different person.

“Don’t do this, mmph, we’ve just met again…”

“Do you dislike it? What should I do, then? I don’t want to stop.”

Thanks to the light coming through the carriage window, they could see each other’s faces. Ah, Leios was angry. His golden eyes, usually gentle for her, now shone coldly, fiercer than a beast’s. Eileen trembled at the faint anger she sensed from him, and Leios pulled her close, pressing his lips to her skin. The deeper he sucked, the more red marks spread across her neck.

“Ah, mmph!”

Leios lifted her onto his lap. With her dress half off, it fell to the floor. He reached behind to grab her chest firmly, undoing the corset strings one by one.

“Suddenly, mmph, Leios… I don’t understand why…”

“We’ve already slept together once. Is there a strange reason?”

When the corset wouldn’t come off, Leios tugged hard at the back, ripping it off completely. Eileen was now n*ked, her legs spread as Leios parted them.

“Ha, mmph, the coachman will hear, Leios!”

“You should worry about yourself first.”

His hands, which had been kneading her chest, now flicked her sensitive peak, making her m*an and lean back. As Eileen surrendered herself to Leios, he reached between her legs, caressing her secret place.

“Is this wet because of me?”

“Mmph, what do you mean?”

“Were you already wet when you danced with the prince?”

Embarrassed by his teasing, Eileen grabbed his wrist. It was true she’d felt tingling down there while dancing with the prince, but she couldn’t admit that, fearing it would ruin things with Leios.

But seeing her silence, Leios let out a cold laugh. He had seen everything—the way she danced closely, her blushing face, even the prince’s hand lingering near her waist. He couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

“Did you do this with that prince, Eileen?”

“I-I don’t know what you mean, Leios.”

“You’re so beautiful, everyone wants you. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be the one to have you first.”

“What do you mean?”

Leios’s eyes were colder than ever. The corners, which had never been sharp with her before, now looked like those of a stranger. Feeling a chill, Eileen grabbed his wrist, but his gaze seemed to have lost reason.

“Turn over.”

“……Leios?”

At his commanding tone, Eileen blinked in confusion. In no time, she was stretched out across the opposite seat, like a four-legged animal. Her limbs, which had been floating, now settled on the carriage floor.

“Leios, please, mmph! Leios!”

“I missed you all month, Eileen.”

Leios spoke in a devastated voice, his fingers teasing the tiny opening between her raised hips. No one had ever touched her there, and Eileen twisted in shock, but she couldn’t overpower Leios.

“I missed you all month, and thought I loved you.”

“Ah, mmph! Leios, not there…”

“And when I realized I had to send you to the prince, it hurt.”

Eileen, hearing Leios’s calm yet sorrowful confession, couldn’t control her body. His fingers plunged into her wet center, spreading her juices, then wandered around her delicate rear.

“And now I’m angry. Humans are truly fickle. I knew from the start I’d have to let you go to another man.”

“Ah, mmph! Not there, I don’t want it, Leios!”

“You’re the same, Eileen. You danced with the prince, but you’re spreading yourself for me.”

His fingers, circling her rear, slowly pressed inside. At first, her tight muscles resisted, but gradually accepted one thick finger. With squelching sounds and unfamiliar sensations, Eileen’s waist collapsed, and Leios lightly spanked her.

Smack! Eileen looked stunned, and Leios smirked arrogantly.

“If you don’t take it properly, this carriage won’t reach Ruby Palace tonight.”

“Don’t do this, Leios…”

“But your body seems to want me, doesn’t it?”

Tears welled in Eileen’s eyes—not from pain, but from the shock of Leios’s roughness. As he lifted her waist, her large br*asts—so thin-skinned that veins showed—hung heavily below her.

“I-I’m scared, Leios.”

“I won’t hurt you. I just want all of you, Eileen.”

Leios, as if to comfort her, took something from his pocket and spread it generously on his hand. With two fingers coated in a white, creamy substance, he pressed them into her exposed center.